Milk-crate



MILK. CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, 1916. 1,345,979. at t d uly 6, 1920.

25 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.-

25 a t Jawd 6414411;

32v g 127 la abknneq n. e. ADAIB.

MILK CRATE. PLICATION FILED MAY l0. I916.

Patented July 6, 1920.;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

DAVID G. ADAIR, 0F IO NIA, MICHIGAN.

Specification of LettersPatent.

MILK-CRATE.

Patented J u1y6, 1920.

Application filed May 10, 1916. Serial No. 96,660.

To all whom/it may concern:

lie it known that l, DAVID G. Annrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tonia, in the county of Ionia and Eitate of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Milk-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in crates of that type which will permit of the parts constituting the crate to be readilylmocked down or set up in order to thoroughly cleanse the same and present suchat all times in a perfect sanitary condition.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of aerate of the above stated character wherein use is made of a frame constructed. of cross rods to render the crate of a sanitary condition at all times.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a frame adapted to be detachably mounted in the crate consisting of superposed cast iron sections and iron cross rods riveted to and disposed transversely and longitudinally of the sections to provide a series of cells for receiving therein the receptacles to be transported, which in this particular instance are milk jars.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts which will hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crate with the frame assembled therein, the cover of the crate being removed;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the crate;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the skeleton frame;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section taken through the crate showing the manner of connecting the bottom thereto; and

Fig. 5 is a view showing the crate in closed position.

In carrying out the invention, 5 denotes the body portion of substantially rectangular configuration of the crate which inthis particular instance is constructed of sheet metal material and comprises side walls 6 and 7 and end walls 8 and 9. The side walls 6 and 7 are connected with the end walls 8 and 9 through the medium of angular sheet metal corner strips 10, the latter being riveted to the exterior faces of the respective walls of the body portion, through the fastenings 11. The lowermost transverse edges of the respective end walls 8 and 9 and the lowermost walls 6 and 7 of the body portion 5, while the latter are riveted to'the exteriorsurfaces of the end walls 8 and In order to assure of a perfect sanitary condition of the crate and in order that the air may have a free circulation through the body portion 5 of the crate, I provide the same with a skeleton bottom 16 comprising a series of longitudinally disposed rods 17 and a plurality of cross rods 18. The rods 17 and 18 respectively penetrate the walls of the crate and projected through the reinforcing angle ron strips 14 and 15 of the crate whereby the same is prevented from being subjected to considerable pressure or weight of the merchandise and prevent the bending or buckling of such rods. The manner of securing the rods to the reinforcing strips also forms the crate of a stout and rigid structure which will permit of shipment and storage purposes without causing the breakage of the crate and thereby prolonging the life of the crate owing to the durability of the same. The upper free edges of the opposite side walls 6 and 7 of the body portion 5 and the end walls 8 are bent to provide a flange of substantially U-shaped construction in cross section as at 19 defining grooves 20, for

the reception of a slidable closure 21.

I employ in connection with a crate of the above referred to character, a skeleton frame 22 constructed of superposed upper and lower auxiliary frame sections of substantially rectangular configuration 23 and 24 respectively connected to one another bymeans of the sheet metal corner members 25. The said sections constitute flattened iron side rods 26 and end rods 27. These rods are bifurcated throughout their length for the reception of a series of cross rods 28, said rods in their assembled position providing a series of cells 29 for the reception of the 1'6- ceptacles to be transported withinthe crate,

which, as before stated, in this particular instance are milk jars. It will be further observed that the rods as well as the frame sections constituting this assembled frame are arranged in spaced relation one to the other, whereby access to the crevices and the underneath portions of the rods may be readily obtained, for the purpose of cleansing the same to remove therefrom allforeign matter and present the frame in a perfectsanitary condition. The spacing of the frame sections further permits of a free circulation f the air passing through the crate to circulate between and through the frame and further aiding in presenting the crate in a perfect sanitary condition.

,From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the mcompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention, relates, and while I have described the principles of operation of the device together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I

desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such advantages may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended thereto.

I claim: In a milk crate, the combination with a metallic body p rtio11 having a meshed bottom, of a skeleton frame therefor, said frame being removablymounted within the body and supported upon the meshed bottom thereof, said frame constituting upper and lower auxiliary frame sections, a series of cross rods carried by each section, and metallic corner braces connectingthe sections and cross rods in spacedrelation, one to the other, and spacing the upper and lower sec- :tions of the frame from each of the walls of the body portion to permit of a free circulation of the air passing through the crate be tween the walls of the body and the auxiliary frame and sections of the frame and cross rods. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DAVID G. ADAIR. 

